A Guide to Child’s Development and Important Toys at Age 7-8

Children don’t all develop in the exact same way, at the exact same time. Development milestones should be looked at as guidelines – nothing more. Understand that child development, as so many other things, is not predictable.

Each child’s development has the potential to be influenced by his or her environment, DNA, and life’s personal experiences. Just the way each child has his or her own personality, the process of development towards adulthood is unique.

However, there are milestones that are worth looking to for each age range. Here’s what to look out for in 7-8 year olds.

Knowledge and Learning Style

Your child may begin to enjoy sharing what he or she has learned with parents, siblings, and just about anyone who is willing to listen with interest. He or she may also begin to demonstrate a greater attention span and become a better problem solver. Learning starts to peak, due to an increase in understanding, becoming more curious, and having a desire to learn, not only in school, but about the world around them.

As the area of technology continues to increase and expand, where children are using it in their learning as well as entertainment, electronic gadgets are great learning tools. These include eReaders or tablets that can be loaded with age-appropriate reading and electronic games.

Motor Skills

At this stage, there is an increase in your child’s motor skills and desire to participate in physical games and activities, such as structured sports. You may also notice that your child can run for a longer period of time with better form, and kick or catch a ball with more accuracy. This is a great time to introduce your child to playing on a local sporting team.

Toys that encourage this specific area may include a basketball set that is adjustable in height, soccer ball and practice nets, bicycle, and even a jungle gym set. Encourage outdoor play and less indoor gaming for overall good health.

Creativity

You can help your child adjust in this area by exposing him or her to art, music, plays, and even different forms of dancing. As body awareness becomes more evident, so does your child’s focus and concentration, such as in reading or watching plays.

Some of the best toys to encourage creativity are drawing easels, sketch pads, dramatic play with dolls and puppets, and character dress-up, where your child can dress up as his or her favorite television or movie character. There is no limit to creativity.